ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania _ Beau Baden, a world class brewmaster, and partner Casey DeCeia, recently purchased a former candy factory in East Allentown and plan to open it as the Sherman Street Beer Company when renovations are complete in the spring. Jeff Barber of Lehigh Financial LLC in Allentown helped the buyers secure a Small Business Administration (SBA 7a) loan to finance outfit and equipment for the production brewery and taproom.

The Sherman Street Beer Company, located at 1825 E. Tremont Street, at the corner of Sherman Street on the eastside of Allentown, will offer all different kinds of beers. Patrons also will be able to buy mixed drinks and wine. Food including specialty hot dogs and paninis also will be served. Indoors, there will be seating for up to 98, Baden said. “When we open in April, we will have outdoor seating for 60 to 70,” he said.

A native of Scranton, Baden is brewmaster for Susquehanna Brewery in Pittston, Luzerne County. He had been brewmaster for Fegley’s Brew Works, overseeing the build and design of its brewery in Allentown, its second location. Over the years, he has won gold, silver and bronze medals in worldwide brewing competitions.

Baden started his career as a brewmaster in 1993 and waited until he had the experience to open his own place. Baden had been looking for a location to start a brewery in the Lehigh Valley for the last several years. He knew the 5,500-square-foot property, formerly a candy manufacturer, on Sherman Street, not far from where the Lehigh Valley IronPigs play, ideal when he saw it. “The property checked a lot of boxes in what we were looking for,” he said.

Baden acknowledged that “this is absolutely the difficult time” to open a brewery/taproom and be in the beer business with the pandemic prohibiting customers from coming indoors. To accommodate guidelines, he said, “we will do a little more off-premise wholesaling and distribution when we open. Hopefully, the taproom [business] comes back by the fall.”

Financing amount was not disclosed.

Lehigh Financial Group, LLC is a leading source of innovative real estate capital solutions and financing options for commercial customers. The company, based in Allentown, serves the Lehigh Valley region by providing capital for businesses and investors locally, regionally and nationwide. For more information on Lehigh Financial Group LLC, please see our website at http://www.lehighfinancialgroup.com.

 

Information provided to TVL by Beth Orenstein on behalf of:
Lehigh Financial Group, LLC
122 North 5th Street
Allentown Pa 18102
http://www.lehighfinancialgroup.com/
 
 

 

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